I cleared my throat, still looking at Tristan. There were tears in his eyes as he studied my face.
Darcy hugged me, breaking off the contact between me and Tristan, and I hugged her back as hard as I possibly could, not wanting to ever let go.
Outside, Steven Nell shouted one continuous, keening wail, as Kevin and Fisher lifted him like a rag doll and tossed him into the back of Joaquin’s truck with a bang. Tristan rose to his feet. He helped me up, and Darcy supported my right side as together the three of us walked outside. Krista hovered near the door of the cabin with Joaquin and Lauren while Nell banged around in the bed of the truck, making enough noise to wake the dead.
“Take him,” Tristan said to Krista.
She nodded, jogged over to the truck, and got in behind the wheel, alone. The guys stood back as she slammed the transmission into gear with authority and took off toward the bridge, kicking up sand as she went. The truck was about half a mile away when the fog suddenly enveloped the taillights, and abruptly, the screaming stopped.
It was still dark out when we arrived back at the house. My senses were heightened. I felt every thud of my heart. Smelled each note of the flowery air. Everything looked different to me. The ocean water was too perfect. The flowering trees seemed fake. It was all like something off a movie set.
“I’m too wired to sleep,” Darcy said as we approached the front door. “Let’s go out back.”
We walked around the side of the house and up to the deck, where we sat for a long time, watching the waves roll onto shore. With every crash of the surf, my heart felt heavier and heavier. I had ten million questions, but there was no one here to ask.
“I’m so sorry,” Darcy said suddenly.
“For what?” I asked. She had nothing to be sorry for. If I had my way, she’d never feel bad about anything ever again.
“For not believing you. For fighting with you. For being such a bitch these last few months,” she said, looking down at the dirt under her fingernails. “I shouldn’t have taken it out on you. Christopher’s the jerk.”
She laughed bitterly and sniffled, wiping her nose with the back of her hand. There was a streak of mud on her face, and her hair was a mess of tangles.
I’d never thought of it that way, but he kind of was. No matter how much I liked him, no
matter how much he liked me, what kind of guy broke up with a girl then kissed her sister that afternoon? I turned and looked at her. “You’re right.”
Darcy and I both laughed. “Too bad we can’t call him up and tell him,” she said, hugging her knees to her chest and resting her chin atop one. “Maybe when we get home.”
My heart thumped, and tears filled my eyes. I looked away, toward the water, not wanting her to see.
“I’m sorry I kissed him,” I said, biting my lip. “I’m sorry I took that stupid shortcut and got us sent here.”
I squeezed my eyes shut against a flood of emotion and pressed the tears back.
“Rory,” Darcy said firmly, reaching for my hand, “it’s not your fault that psycho attacked you. You know that, right?”
I nodded, unable to form a word.
“And you know what? Aside from the terrifying kidnapping by a serial killer, I kind of like it here,” she added.
I swallowed back the ball that had formed in my throat and nodded. “Yeah, Juniper Landing is okay.”
Darcy yawned hugely and stretched her arms over her head. “I’m starting to crash. I think I’ll go take a shower and go to bed.”
“Maybe you should wake up Dad first and tell him you’re okay,” I said.
“Good point,” Darcy said with a laugh, shaking her head. She started to go but paused near the door. “What do you think the cops will do with Mr. Nell? Do they even have a jail on this island?”
Probably not, I thought. I looked at her, feeling conflicted. It was almost sad, how she knew nothing. But I also envied her.
“I’m sure they’ll turn him right over to the FBI,” I said.
She nodded, accepting this. “Good. Then his ass will be out of here for good.”
“Yep. I think that’s the idea.”
“Good night, Rory,” she said.